UN Warns Yemen Fighting Could Push 10,000 People to Djibouti

UNHCR is preparing for more than 10,000 possible arrivals in Djibouti as renewed fighting in Yemen threatens to deepen displacement and humanitarian needs.

The United Nations has warned that renewed fighting in Yemen could drive thousands of people across the Red Sea to Djibouti and sharply increase internal displacement.

UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said the number of people displaced within Yemen could rise from more than 130,000 to above 230,000 in the coming months. UNHCR and its partners are also preparing for more than 10,000 arrivals in Djibouti.

“Intensifying fighting in Yemen could drive more mass displacement,” Baloch told reporters in Geneva.

Displacement rises as fighting continues

The renewed clashes involve Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the Aden-based government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. More than 100,000 civilians have already been uprooted inside Yemen, while Djibouti state media reported that more than 3,000 people crossed the Red Sea to Djibouti over several days earlier in the month.

The Houthis seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline earlier in the month. The offensive has added to a crisis that was already affecting more than 5.2 million internally displaced people, according to the supplied information.

UNHCR said its planning for Djibouti is aimed at ensuring that new arrivals can access registration, reception, protection and other essential services. The agency expects difficult sea conditions to improve after mid-October, but warned that the number of arrivals could still increase significantly.

Funding shortfalls hamper response

The humanitarian response is facing major financial constraints. Baloch said an estimated 22 million people in Yemen require humanitarian assistance.

UNHCR estimates that $25 million is urgently needed to provide immediate aid to approximately 231,000 people. However, the agency’s Yemen operation is only 18 percent funded for 2026.

Operations in Djibouti are also underfunded. UNHCR said they were 15 percent funded and appealed for $13.5 million to support services for people arriving from Yemen.

The projected totals of more than 10,000 arrivals in Djibouti and more than 230,000 people displaced inside Yemen are estimates rather than confirmed final figures. They reflect preparations for a possible worsening of the humanitarian situation as fighting continues.